Kayen gasped for air as he skidded to a halt. He had no idea if they were still following. He didn’t dare look. He just needed a moment to catch his breath so he could keep on running. The edge of the city wasn’t far now. He could have flown, but his energy wings would have given him away and frankly Kayen was too exhausted to keep on running. Only his desire to get away was keeping him on his feet.
After a quick check to see if anyone was nearby, Kayen set off again. His wristbands were missing. Whether they were back at that warehouse or if they’d been removed and left at the bar, Kayen didn’t know. Unfortunately that meant Kayen had to navigate on memory alone. He was pretty sure he was on the outskirts of Dalesa, the town he lived in, but he wasn’t sure exactly. A street name was all he needed.
There was a road ahead. That’s where Kayen went. The street sign was too small and too scuffed up to read. Street lights barely helped. Everything was locked up. This was the industrial edge of Dalesa. There were security cameras everywhere, which meant that Kayen was slightly safer – no one would risk kidnapping him while being recorded – but since it must have been about two in the morning, there was no one around to help him.
Finally, Kayen found a shop front he recognised. A foundry that made fancy knives. There was no one here, but it gave Kayen a sense of direction. He needed to head up north, which would take him to the residential areas around Dalesas Park. There, it shouldn’t have been too hard to get help.
Wanting to preserve his strength, Kayen slowed down, but remained walking at a strong pace. Flying still wasn’t an option. It would have been quicker but if they were following him…
Kayen didn’t want to turn around and check. Maybe they were still following him. He didn’t even know who they were. He hadn’t heard any voices though. Or footsteps. Or the flapping of elemental wings, which would have been way more noticeable. According to some article he read, most kidnappings, rapes and murders were caused by vok the victims knew. But this clearly was not the case. He had only caught glimpses of them though. All wearing red armour with glowing gems embedded in them, as well as facial masks, completely obscuring their more important details.
The residential area was coming up. He could see lights that weren’t just street lamps. That was good. Kayen picked up his pace. The first house he could see, he would go straight to it.
There was a light on inside. Didn’t mean someone was awake. Just meant it was more likely someone lived here. Kayen immediately ran up to the front door and rang the doorbell.
“Hello? Please, I need help!”
No one answered. Kayen didn’t hear any movement at all. He had no choice but to try the next house.
“Please! Someone let me in! I need help!”
Thankfully, there was movement this time. This was an older part of town. Older, more retired Skyavok. Mostly N-Class and M-Class retirees but quite a few old K-Class veterans as well.
The door opened up, revealing an elderly Skyavok wearing a night-time stomach wrap.
“What the fuck are you doing.”
Unable to contain himself for much longer, words just fell out of Kayen’s mouth. “I was drugged and someone tried to kidnap me and I woke up in a warehouse surrounded by weird Skyans but I got out and ran and I’m scared and…”
The elderly Skyan took Kayen by the hand and led him inside. He closed the door then immediately called the Astynom.
“They were wearing red armour with orange gems. Red armour. A lot of red. Maybe some gold. I don’t know. It’s all…”
Kayen was forced down onto the sofa. The other Skyan raised his hands calmly.
“Astynom are on the way. Five minutes or so. You’re Kayef’s kid. You were…”
“It keeps on happening… People trying to kidnap me…”
The elderly Skyan did his best to try and calm Kayen down, but Kayen just kept on talking.
“Where did they take you?”
Kayen hesitated, then wandered over to the window. He pointed outside. “Past the trees and warehouses. Up on the hi-”
Suddenly, an explosion rocked the landscape. The warehouse that Kayen had been pointing at disappeared in a storm of flames and dust.